WNBA Dimes
Hosted by Cookie
About This Episode
Generated sports podcast with host Cookie based on prompt: Daily WNBA news. Scores, highlights, and general news. Call it WNBA Dimes
Transcript
Hey! It's Cookie O'Clock! You're tuned into "WNBA Dimes," and we've got a lot to chew on from the July 15th action-packed slate. Grab your favorite snack, because we're diving into the juicy bits of the latest WNBA games before the All-Star break!
First up, Indiana Fever took on the Connecticut Sun, and what a thriller it was! The Fever snapped the Sun's hopes with an 85–77 victory at TD Garden. Kelsey Mitchell was on fire, scoring 20 points. Natasha Howard, the towering giant, dominated with 13 rebounds alongside 18 points. Talk about multitasking! Rookie sensation Caitlin Clark dazzled with 7 assists, leaving Connecticut in her wake. Meanwhile, the Sun’s Tina Charles was trying her best with 21 points, but alas, turnovers are like that pesky mosquito at a barbecue—annoying and persistent. The Sun’s 11 turnovers were costly, allowing Indiana to jump ahead with a solid 14–4 run. Ouch!
Across the country at the Crypto.com Arena, the Los Angeles Sparks were lighting it up against the Washington Mystics, securing a 99–80 win. Dearica Hamby unleashed her inner supernova with 26 points, making everyone in LA see stars. Rookie Rickea Jackson didn’t shy away either, putting up 22 points, while Kelsey Plum added some triple magic. The Mystics struggled, especially in the second quarter, managing only 12 points. It was a tough one for them, but hey, they'll bounce back!
Let’s spin the globe to the All-Star updates where Minnesota's Kayla McBride got the call-up to replace the injured Rhyne Howard. With 14.1 points per game, she’s ready to make some noise at her fifth All-Star appearance. Also, don't forget to catch Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, and Allisha Gray in the 3-Point Contest. It’s going to be a showdown worth staying up for!
In league news, Portland fans rejoice—the WNBA announced the return of the Portland Fire! Yes, the roses are flaming, and Portland’s basketball spirit is igniting with a fresh logo to match their fiery enthusiasm. Exciting times ahead as Portland gets ready to embrace the league once more!
And right before the break, the Las Vegas Aces' own A’ja Wilson is having a monster season, recently dropping 34 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Her averages are off the charts, making her the player to watch. Meanwhile, Dallas Wings' rookie Paige Bueckers is leading the charge for first-year players. Keep your eyes peeled for the fireworks when these stars collide.
Now, a quick nod to the statistical leaders of the day. Natasha Howard topped the charts, no surprise there with her dynamite performance. Dearica Hamby also made a splash, proving her mettle on both ends of the court.
There you have it, folks! A goodie bag of highlights and news just in time for the All-Star break. The anticipation is palpable, and I, for one, can't wait to see how the rest of this season unfolds. Thanks for tuning in to "WNBA Dimes." Until next time, remember: keep your head in the game and your snacks within reach. Catch ya later!
## Game Recaps
On July 15, 2025, the WNBA slate featured two contests as teams wrapped up their pre–All-Star Break schedules. The Indiana Fever improved to 13–10 by defeating the Connecticut Sun 85–77 at TD Garden, snapping a three-game skid for the Sun and extending their own win streak to three games. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Sparks handed the Washington Mystics their first losing night in four, dispatching Washington 99–80 at Crypto.com Arena and earning back-to-back victories for the first time this season ([basketball.realgm.com](https://basketball.realgm.com/wnba/scores/2025-07-15/All), [oursportscentral.com](https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/indiana-fever-vs-connecticut-sun-full-game-highlights-july-15-2025/n-6256044)).
## Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun (85–77)
The Fever were led by Kelsey Mitchell, who poured in 20 points, while Natasha Howard dominated the glass with 13 rebounds and added 18 points of her own ([oursportscentral.com](https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/indiana-fever-vs-connecticut-sun-full-game-highlights-july-15-2025/n-6256044), [basketball.realgm.com](https://basketball.realgm.com/wnba/scores/2025-07-15/All)). Caitlin Clark continued her stellar rookie campaign with 7 assists, dictating tempo and finding teammates in transition ([basketball.realgm.com](https://basketball.realgm.com/wnba/scores/2025-07-15/All)). For the Sun, veteran center Tina Charles posted a team-high 21 points and grabbed 11 boards, and Alyssa Morrow chipped in 12 rebounds ([basketball.realgm.com](https://basketball.realgm.com/wnba/scores/2025-07-15/All)). Despite Charles’s efforts, Connecticut’s season-high 11 turnovers proved too costly, with Indiana capitalizing for 22 points off turnovers and pulling away with a decisive 14–4 run spanning late in the third into the fourth quarter.
## Los Angeles Sparks vs. Washington Mystics (99–80)
Dearica Hamby powered the Sparks with 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including a momentum-shifting first-half 3-pointer at the buzzer to cap a 17–2 run that put LA up by 25 at intermission ([new.cbssports.com](https://new.cbssports.com/wnba/gametracker/recap/WNBA_20250715_WAS%40LAS/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [deadspin.com](https://deadspin.com/sparks-trounce-mystics-for-first-back-to-back-wins-of-season/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Rookie Rickea Jackson nearly matched Hamby’s output with 22 points and a career-high performance, while Kelsey Plum added 20 points and drilled three triples in the second quarter alone ([deadspin.com](https://deadspin.com/sparks-trounce-mystics-for-first-back-to-back-wins-of-season/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [houstonchronicle.com](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/hamby-jackson-and-plum-each-score-20-plus-and-20771718.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). On the other side, Shakira Austin led Washington with 16 points and 8 rebounds, but the Mystics were held to just 12 points in the second quarter and never recovered ([new.cbssports.com](https://new.cbssports.com/wnba/gametracker/recap/WNBA_20250715_WAS%40LAS/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [houstonchronicle.com](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/hamby-jackson-and-plum-each-score-20-plus-and-20771718.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
## All-Star Updates
Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride was officially named as a replacement for the injured Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard on Team Collier in the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/lynx-g-kayla-mcbride-named-all-star-replacement-2025-07-15/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [wnba.com](https://www.wnba.com/webview/news?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). McBride, who is averaging 14.1 points, 3.1 assists, and shooting 41.7% from three, earns her fifth career All-Star nod and gives the Lynx four representatives in the Midseason Showcase ([canishoopus.com](https://www.canishoopus.com/2025/7/15/24468357/wnba-news-all-star-kayla-mcbride-minnesota-lynx-napheesa-collier-courtney-williams-cheryl-reeve?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45598237/wnba-all-star-game-2025-watch-schedule-rosters-news-indianapolis?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Additionally, the league announced the headliners for Friday night’s All-Star Week events: Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, and Allisha Gray will compete in the Starry® 3-Point Contest, while Courtney Williams will participate in the Kia Skills Challenge ([wnba.com](https://www.wnba.com/webview/news?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45598237/wnba-all-star-game-2025-watch-schedule-rosters-news-indianapolis?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
## League News and Announcements
In one of the day’s biggest announcements, the WNBA and the City of Portland formally unveiled its expansion franchise as the Portland Fire, reviving the name of the original 2000–2002 squad. The new branding features a “rose on fire” logo nodding to Portland’s “Rose City” nickname and incorporates the city’s twelve bridges and Mount Hood silhouette in the wordmark ([cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/15/wnbas-portland-fire-unveils-name-and-logo-ahead-of-2026-tipoff.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [wnba.com](https://www.wnba.com/webview/news?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Team leadership, including interim president Clare Hamill, emphasized strong community demand with over 10,000 season-ticket deposits and the goal of reigniting Portland’s passion for women’s sports upon its 2026 debut ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/07/15/wnba-fire-new-logo-launch-basketball?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/15/wnbas-portland-fire-unveils-name-and-logo-ahead-of-2026-tipoff.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
## Pre-All-Star Break Preview
Las Vegas Aces head coach Nate Tibbetts released a detailed preview for their final game before the break—a Wednesday night clash at the Dallas Wings—highlighting A’ja Wilson’s recent 34-point, 16-rebound outburst and her league-leading averages of 21.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game ([aces.wnba.com](https://aces.wnba.com/news/game-preview-aces-close-out-pre-all-star-schedule-at-dallas-wednesday), [aces.wnba.com](https://aces.wnba.com/news/game-preview-aces-close-out-pre-all-star-schedule-at-dallas-wednesday?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). The preview also noted Jackie Young’s consistency, having scored at least 10 points in her last four outings, and spotlighted rookie Paige Bueckers for Dallas, who leads all first-year players with 18.3 points and 5.4 assists per game ([aces.wnba.com](https://aces.wnba.com/news/game-preview-aces-close-out-pre-all-star-schedule-at-dallas-wednesday), [aces.wnba.com](https://aces.wnba.com/news/game-preview-aces-close-out-pre-all-star-schedule-at-dallas-wednesday?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
## Statistical Leaders of the Day
According to RealGM’s Floor Impact Counter (FIC), Indiana’s Natasha Howard topped the leaderboard with a remarkable 21.0 FIC, fueled by her 18 points, 13 rebounds, and defensive impact ([basketball.realgm.com](https://basketball.realgm.com/wnba/daily-leaders?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Los Angeles’s Hamby followed closely with an 18.9 FIC, while Azura Stevens contributed 16.3 in a versatile 15-point, 8-rebound effort ([basketball.realgm.com](https://basketball.realgm.com/wnba/daily-leaders?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Connecticut’s Tina Charles rounded out the top four with 16.1 FIC, underscoring her dominance despite the Sun’s loss ([basketball.realgm.com](https://basketball.realgm.com/wnba/daily-leaders?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
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These key results and developments from July 15 provide a comprehensive snapshot of the WNBA landscape on the eve of the All-Star break, highlighting standout performances, roster honors, historic franchise milestones, and the anticipation brewing as the league pauses for its midseason showcase.
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